Hawkers outraged at Rabat Local Council

Rabat’s monti hawkers and residents are livid at their Local Council’s decision to move the Sunday monti site away from Sta Rita Street where the hawkers usually set their stalls up. The monti site has been temporarily displaced to Triq it-Tigrija, a road at the bottom of a hill on the outskirts of Rabat where the Mnarja races are held. This is due to roadworks planned along Sta Rita Street that are expected to go on for around four months.

Today was the first Sunday that Rabat's monti was held in Triq it-Tigrija. Reports say that only a few shoppers visited it and that the hawkers whiled away their time complaining about the Government. 

Rabat’s Local Council has organized a mini bus shuttle service from Rabat's police station to the new monti site. However, residents have complained that some people miht find it difficult to carry their heavy bags onto these mini buses and that there isn't enough space inside these mini buses to accommodate both the shoppers and their bags.

A lot of Rabat residents are of the opinion that the Local Council could have chosen a better temporary site for the hawkers to set up their stalls. Some say that the council could have banned parking in front of the Sirkin bar for the few market hours on Sunday mornings and made the parking area available to the hawkers. Hawkers also feel that they have been unfairly treated, after having spotted a vegetable truck operating in Sta Rita Street this morning.

Counsellor Ian Vassallo had earlier said the Local Council chose to displace the monti to Triq it-Tigrija because of that road’s size.

“Around 100 people set up their stalls in Rabat’s monti,” Vassallo said. “Triq it-Tigrija was the only road that could accommodate them all.”